Amanda
Brecker is a New York City vocalist with series jazz and pop vocal chops.It was in Japan where she first found
stardom, however, wrapping up two Gold Awards and best-seller status as a jazz
artist.In 2011, Brecker released Blossom in Japan.The album, a tribute to the collaborations of
James Taylor and Carole King, shows off Brecker’s supple voice on some classic
tunes.With Jesse Harris (Norah Jones,
Once Blue) at the helm, and some of Taylor’s and King’s own band mates in tow,
Brecker gets an aurally appealing though overly reserved re-introduction to
American audiences.

Brecker sets forth with the title track, offering up a light and easy vocal
inspired by James Taylor. The track is eminently listenable, and Brecker brings
an instantly affable quality to the song. Brecker finds a pragmatic sense of
hope in the midst of "So Far Away", making it into a wistful
daydream. "You Can Close Your Eyes" is well presented here, with a
vague lullabies quality that is sweet and wistful.

Brecker makes a true ballad out of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", using
the sweet quality of we voice to make this sound more philosophical than
urgent. Brecker is a pleasure to listen to here. The standout track on the
Blossom is a difficult choice, but "Sweet Baby James" has to be in the
running. Amanda Brecker's voice is her own, but she manages to capture the same
easy feel that James Taylor is known for.

The arrangement Brecker uses for "It's Too Late" has a gentle,
soulful swing to it that's quietly irresistible. Her laid back vocal has a
soulful element to it that's nice without being overdone. "Don't Let Me Be
Lonely Tonight" is solid, with just a touch of blue eyed soul in the
sound. Listeners may start to get a bit restless at this point. Brecker's voice
is pretty and her interpretations are reverent to the originals, but she hasn't
generally added anything to the songs. This doesn't change with "Long Ago
And Far Away".

The tone changes a bit with "Something In The Way He Moves". Brecker
switches up more than just pronouns as she sets a gentle swing and adds a nice
folk singer/songwriter feel to the vocal line. She tries to so the same with
"(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman", but just doesn't have the
power in her voice to carry this tune in its elemental grace. "You've Got
A Friend" acquires a vague jazz and gospel essence, along with a delicious
hint of melancholy. Brecker is at her best here, intimately personal and warm
in her delivery. Brecker bows with "You Were Mine", which is well
done but seems thoroughly out of place stylistically.

Amanda
Brecker is a real talent.I am not
certain that a tribute cover album is necessarily the way to break her into the
American market.It sets Brecker up to
be more of a musical oddity than an artist that listeners actively seek
out.Brecker has the voice and the charm
to overcome this fate, but this is another example ofa major label seeing short term dollar signs
than the benefits of allowing an artist to develop his/her fan base in organic
fashion.The result is that the artist
(Brecker) and fans get short-changed.Blossom is a fair effort, but Brecker
has so much more to offer.

Whoever knew
that one of the (quietly) biggest juggernauts in Indie music would be based in
Iowa?It’s true, and you’ll understand
once you get a listen to The Nadas.The
band has sold over 200,000 albums through their own Indie label, and consistently
churns out some of the finest Americana rock and roll you’re likely to
find.The Nadas’ latest effort, Lovejoy Revival, finds the band at the
peak of their musical powers, drawing on influences from country to classic
rock and roll.As always, The Nadas roll
with a lyrical depth and musical grace that paces the Americana pack.

Lovejoy Revival kicks off with the edgy Americana/pop of "Star
Crossed". The acapella opening is a nice touch, but the tale of love,
ignominy and apocalypse has a certain charm. The full bodied arrangement is a
perfect match, and Mike Butterworth's warm, calming vocal guides it all home.
"Meant To Be" is a neo-classic wedding song, co-written with songwriter
Tricia Martin. The Nadas sound more than a bit like Blue Rodeo here, with an
almost melancholy arrangement contrasting lyrics full of love, hope and
pragmatic dreams.

"Someone You've Never Known" has to qualify as some of the finest
pieces of pop songwriting to cross this desk in some time. There's an
irrepressible energy to this tune, and the prospective perspective on a
relationship adds a refreshing perspective. "New Place To Hide" takes
a down tempo look at a relationship as it falls apart. This is slow dance
material, but a bit of a downer for the dance floor. It would fit nicely in a
film soundtrack as a breakup song however. "Visitor" is a quietly
ambling story song cut from the singer/songwriter tradition. The outcome here
is as unknown as the song's terminus is unforeseen, but the listener is left
with a palpable expectation that something is going to change.

"Love You To Pieces" is a quiet but persistent swoon that is
memorable. Once again The Nadas appear to have hit on a sound that is perfect
for a soundtrack. The Nadas dig out their electric guitars for
"Honor". The intergenerational perspective on honor and military service
is striking for its lack of political hyperbole and its personal feel.
"Only Love Is Real" has a wonderfully unsettled sense of urgency that
gets under your skin. This is a song with impact that you'll return to again
and again. "I'll Wait Forever" is more settled, but impacts with a
powerful sense of love and devotion. This is fairy tale love without the saccharine
poetess of modern pop.The Nadas' take
on The Rolling Stones' "Beast Of Burden" is subtle and quiet, but
manages to capture some of energy of the original. The closing track, "Hard Rain" is powerful and emotive in its quite delivery.

Indie music
encompasses the full range of musical experiences.Nowadays you can find everything from
abstract teens scratching out chords in their basement on a laptop to
established stars, newly escaped from label shackles working the DIY
lines.Out of the menagerie a band will
occasionally rise to the top.The Nadas
are one such band, and Lovejoy Revival
is a reminder that they just seem to keep getting better with time.The mix of utter professionalism and
distinctive creativity on Lovejoy Revival
is hard to find, and the album is a well polished gem that sparkles with its
own inner light.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Beware the
wallflower.Meredith O’Connor never fit
in.Ostracized in school for being
different, O’Connor has used her differences to become truly unique.Singer, songwriter, model and actress, the
17-year old is on a steady rise.Her
heart is in the right place too, as O’Connor still finds time to be an official
advisor for www.reachout.com, an online
information and support service for teens and young adults.O’Connor is about to release her debut EP,
featuring four original songs culled from her personal experiences and
beliefs.It is generally a pragmatic and
positive look at the problems of a modern young adult.

O'Connor opens with "Celebrity", a straight up, candy coated kiss off
song about making it big and rubbing it in the face of the one who dropped her.
There's almost a country sensibility here, but the synth affirms the song's
bubblegum pedigree. "14 Miles" finds O'Connor warning her crush that
his girlfriend is going to hit the road. There is a good intent feel to this,
but there's an obvious conflict of interest. The arrangement is straight ahead
and solid. "Face That's Perfect" is an uncomplicated yet edgy pop
crush song. O'Connor displays a keen pop sensibility here that's part Belinda
Carlisle. "The Game" is an odd song of belief in another. It starts
off steeped in singer/songwriter pastiche but moves into a chorus that sounds
like it was inspired by Debbie Boone. It's an unsettled sound that doesn't
quite fit O'Connor's voice.

Meredith O'Connor is an intriguing young artist. Her bound wire alto voice is
pleasant but with a steely edge. As a songwriter O'Connor shows her young age.
She has yet to find her voice as a writer, and is still playing musical dress
up to find which style and sound fits her. There's little doubt, however, that
she has the potential to be an impact artist one day.